In the labyrinth of e-health: exploring attitudes towards e-health in Greece
In the labyrinth of e-health: exploring attitudes towards e-health in Greece

Summary/Abstract: Background: Attitudes towards e-Health have been little investigated in Greece in the general population as well as in healthcare students and professionals, while at the same time undergraduate curricula with focus on e-Health are entirely missing. Aims: To explore attitudes towards e-Health among students, doctors and laypeople in Greece across several demographic variables. Methods: Three hundred eighty participants (180 first-year healthcare university students from various faculties including medicine, pharmacy, biology, nursing, physiotherapy, midwifery, healthcare engineers, 100 medical doctors of various specialties working in hospitals and private practice, and 100 laypeople) living in different Greek geographical areas completed a modified version of the Attitude Towards e-Health questionnaire along with a detailed demographics questionnaire. Results: Results revealed that the three groups showed statistically significant differences for all aspects of e-Health attitudes, reporting more negative attitudes, regardless of their education, gender and age when compared with similar findings from other countries. In addition, the majority of the participants reported lack of educational experience regarding e-Health. Conclusion: Present findings showed that the current efforts and relevant initiatives by the Greek State, private institutions and the Greek Medical Societies should refocus and emphasize on e-Health education programs concerning the dissemination of relevant scientific information on potential benefits and challenges in providing and accessing e-Health, either as a provider or as a consumer. Future research should further investigate in more depth the complex influence of additional social and/or psychological factors for the reported differences.

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